Sustainable Development
Evaluating California's SB 375 Implementation So Far
Julie Pierce, city of Clayton councilmember, chair of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and president of the Association of Bay Area Governments, evaluates the effects of SB 375, California's key land use law to address climate change .
Land for Vehicles or People?
Automobile-oriented planning requires that cities devote signifiant amounts of space to roads and parking—under many conditions each vehicle requires more land than is devoted to housing per capita.
Advocating a New Planning Covenant for Los Angeles
Two well-known Los Angeles civic leaders advocate a new framework for understanding the built environment and landscape of Los Angeles, setting a trajectory for sustainable development.
Democratic Platform: Strong on Sustainability, Short on Transportation Specifics
With the Democratic convention underway in Charlotte, Streetsblog's Tanya Snyder looks for the transportation element in their platform, but finds it lacking. Sustainability refers to the economy, not to financing the infrastructure investments.
China's Housing Tries to Go Green, but Fails
A so-called "eco-friendly" apartment complex complete with solar panels that derives more than 90% of its energy needs from coal? China struggles to take sustainable development seriously.
How Can Atlanta Become a Smart City?
Maggie Comstock looks at what it takes to be considered a "Smart City", and asks what an organizationally and infrastructurally challenged city like Atlanta can do to raise its IQ.
Thinking About Sustainability on a Global Scale
In an opinion piece, noted economist Jeffrey Sachs explores what it will take to achieve the 'triple bottom line' of sustainable development, which the UN puts at the top of the global agenda.
Highest and Best Use of Empty Shipping Containers
The DeKalb Market on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn showcases adaptive reuse of old shipping containers at its best with an eclectic mix of small shops, picnic area, food vendors, urban garden, and DJ booth.
South Korea Rises
South Korea is emerging as a new center of Asian mega development. With a variety of large-scale and small-scale projects, the country is taking a specific interest in sustainable development.
Green Urbanism Principles
What exactly is Green Urbanism? The Next American City has a detailed explanation of the major principles of Green Urbanism all in a nifty slideshow.
Head of HUD Gives One Condition to Future Grants: Sustainability
In an interview, the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan says that federal money will only go to those who embrace sustainability.
Eco Cities Becoming Reality
A panel of experts met in Los Angeles last month to discuss 'eco' cities in terms both abstract and practical.
A Community Built to be Green
The Vauban District in southern Germany is a small community built around a green transportation scheme, but it has become much more: a model of cooperative decision-making, sustainability and eco-planning.
Move Over Suburbia... For "Prefurbia"?
Twin Cities developer and software guru Rick Harrison believes that, through innovative urban design configurations such as 'coving,' suburban areas can be transformed from "disdainable to sustainable."
Green Branding 101 for Cities
Marc Stoiber offers suggestions for bolstering a city's green image by looking at several cities across the globe that have found success at marketing their own sustainable urbanism programs and initiatives.
"Dilbert" Creator Tries to Build Green House
Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strip, walks readers through the planners, planning commissioners, architects and builders that plagued him through his quest to build a sustainable home.
Cities Must Realign Priorities Toward Job Creation
Aaron Renn argues that when it comes to thinking on large cities, "too many people remain stuck in the 90s." Now that the recession has civic finances in a vice grip, we ought to focus not on condos or bike shares, but straightforward job creation.
'Next Exit for Transportation's Future' is Generally Banal
The latest planning exhibition at the Center for Architecture has a "certain 1970s openness, a live-and-let-live philosophy, a crunchy impression enhanced by the bicycles hanging in the Center’s double-height display window," says Alexandra Lange.
China's Cities: All Show, No Substance?
Chinese urban sprawl has the potential to be transformed into urban sustainability.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
